VI A Visit To Box Five

           WeleftM.FirminRichardandM.ArmandMoncharminatthemomentwhentheyweredeciding"tolookintothatlittlematterofBoxFive."

           Leavingbehindthemthebroadstaircasewhichleadsfromthelobbyoutsidethemanagers’officestothestageanditsdependencies,theycrossedthestage,wentoutbythesubscribers’doorandenteredthehousethroughthefirstlittlepassageontheleft.ThentheymadetheirwaythroughthefrontrowsofstallsandlookedatBoxFiveonthegrandtier,Theycouldnotseeitwell,becauseitwashalfindarknessandbecausegreatcoverswereflungovertheredvelvetoftheledgesofalltheboxes.

           Theywerealmostaloneinthehuge,gloomyhouse;andagreatsilencesurroundedthem.Itwasthetimewhenmostofthestage-handsgooutforadrink.Thestaffhadlefttheboardsforthemoment,leavingascenehalfset.Afewraysoflight,awan,sinisterlight,thatseemedtohavebeenstolenfromanexpiringluminary,fellthroughsomeopeningorotheruponanoldtowerthatraiseditspasteboardbattlementsonthestage;everything,inthisdeceptivelight,adoptedafantasticshape.Intheorchestrastalls,thedruggetcoveringthemlookedlikeanangrysea,whoseglaucouswaveshadbeensuddenlyrenderedstationarybyasecretorderfromthestormphantom,who,aseverybodyknows,iscalledAdamastor.MM.MoncharminandRichardweretheshipwreckedmarinersamidthismotionlessturmoilofacalicosea.Theymadefortheleftboxes,plowingtheirwaylikesailorswholeavetheirshipandtrytostruggletotheshore.